Chapter 13—Two Worshipers
This chapter is based on
Luke 18:9-14
.
“Unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous,
and despised others,” Christ spoke the parable of the Pharisee and the
publican. The Pharisee goes up to the temple to worship, not because
he feels that he is a sinner in need of pardon, but because he thinks
himself righteous and hopes to win commendation. His worship he
regards as an act of merit that will recommend him to God. At the
same time it will give the people a high opinion of his piety. He hopes
to secure favor with both God and man. His worship is prompted by
self-interest.
And he is full of self-praise. He looks it, he walks it, he prays it.
Drawing apart from others as if to say, “Come not near to me; for I
am holier than thou” (
Isaiah 65:5
), he stands and prays “with himself.”
Wholly self-satisfied, he thinks that God and men regard him with the
same complacency.
“God, I thank thee,” he says, “that I am not as other men are,
extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.” He judges
[151]
his character, not by the holy character of God, but by the character of
other men. His mind is turned away from God to humanity. This is
the secret of his self-satisfaction.
He proceeds to recount his good deeds: “I fast twice in the week,
I give tithes of all that I possess.” The religion of the Pharisee does
not touch the soul. He is not seeking Godlikeness of character, a heart
filled with love and mercy. He is satisfied with a religion that has to
do only with outward life. His righteousness is his own—the fruit of
his own works—and judged by a human standard.
Whoever trusts in himself that he is righteous, will despise others.
As the Pharisee judges himself by other men, so he judges other men
by himself. His righteousness is estimated by theirs, and the worse they
are the more righteous by contrast he appears. His self-righteousness
leads to accusing. “Other men” he condemns as transgressors of God’s
90